The island nation of Nauru has turned to China. Now Taiwan has only 12 diplomatic allies left.
Taiwan lost another diplomatic ally – the Pacific island nation of Nauru, which cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan and established ties with China. This was reported by CNN on Monday, January 15.
The move is another blow to Taiwan’s efforts to retain its dwindling number of diplomatic allies and comes just two days after Taiwanese voters rejected Chinese threats to elect a new president.
Lai Lai Qingde, the current vice president and a vocal defender of Taiwan’s identity and sovereignty, won the presidential election, giving the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) a historic third consecutive term in office.
Nauru’s defection to China leaves Taiwan with just 12 diplomatic allies, mostly small Pacific and Latin American countries, as well as the Vatican. During the eight years of DPP rule, Taiwan lost ten diplomatic allies.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry condemned Nauru “in the strongest possible terms” for making such a diplomatic move towards China at such a “key moment” – immediately after the presidential elections.
Taiwan’s Vice Foreign Minister Tian Chung-kwan said Taiwan would immediately suspend all official relations with Nauru “to protect national dignity,” including closing its embassy and asking the Pacific island to close its embassy in Taiwan.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry also learned that Chinese officials had approached Nauruan politicians with offers of economic aid. The official added that China’s offer “exceeds what we can offer our diplomatic allies.”
Nauru ends diplomatic relations with Taiwan for the second time. The island republic first severed ties in 2002, then restored them in 2005.
Nauru’s statement came after an informal US delegation reaffirmed US “unwavering” support for Taiwan during a visit to the island to meet its current and newly elected presidents.
Washington severed official ties with Taiwan in 1979 after Beijing transferred diplomatic recognition to Taipei. However, the United States maintains close unofficial relations with Taiwan and is required by law to provide for the island’s self-defense.
Many other Western countries, including some Europeans, also maintain informal relations with Taipei under the guise of trade missions.
As we have already written, the presidential election in Taiwan was won by a candidate unacceptable to China – the current Vice President Lai Ching-te.
Source: korrespondent
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